Wheaton man charged with child luring
A 47-year-old Wheaton man faces felony charges after police said he tried to lure several children to his apartment with alcohol.
Javier Lopez, of the 2000 block of west Roosevelt Road, is charged with two counts of luring and one count of child abduction. DuPage County Judge Paul Marchese set Lopez's bail Saturday at $150,000. He would have to post $15,000 to be released from jail while the case is pending.
On the night of March 10, Lopez on "numerous occasions" approached several children playing basketball in the apartment complex where he lived, DuPage County State's Attorney Bob Berlin said in a news release.
Lopez offered the children alcohol if they would return to his apartment with him, but they refused and alerted an adult, authorities said. Lopez still remained near the minors, authorities said. They ranged in age from seven to 15 years old.
A short time later, Wheaton police arrived and after speaking with the minors, took Lopez into custody.
"I would like to commend every one of the children on the basketball court that evening, as well as their parents, for their response," Berlin said in the release.
Lopez is next due in court March 22. He is scheduled to be arraigned April 1.